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Chai Cortez
American soccer player (born 1998) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Chai Losalea Cortez (born July 18, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who most recently played as a full-back for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She played college soccer for the Oregon Ducks before joining the Wave for two professional stints.
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Early life
Cortez grew up in Kahului, Hawaii, alongside three sisters.[2] Cortez's oldest sister, Kylie, was a college soccer player who starred for the Chaminade Silverswords.[3] As a teenager, Cortez attended Lokelani Intermediate school and Maui High School.[4][5] She led Maui High School in scoring during her last three years of education and was named to the all-league first team. Cortez also played club soccer for the Hawaii Surf, where she helped the team win two club championships.[4]
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College career
In 2018, Cortez started playing with the Oregon Ducks. She started all 19 of Oregon's games in two seasons and earned All-Pac-12 Third Team and Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2021.[4][6][7] She scored her only collegiate goal against California on March 26, 2021, converting the match-winner directly off of a corner kick.[8] Cortez finished her college career in 2022 with 79 appearances and 1 goal recorded. Her 11 assists tied for the seventh-highest in program history.[4]
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Club career
Summarize
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During the 2023 NWSL preseason, Cortez joined the Houston Dash's squad as a non-rostered invitee.[9] She ended up sustaining an injury during the Dash's training camp and did not sign with Houston.[10][11]
San Diego Wave, 2023
On July 27, 2023, Cortez signed her first professional contract with San Diego Wave FC as a national team replacement player,[12][13] becoming the first Maui Interscholastic League graduate to sign in the NWSL.[11] She made her debut with the Wave on July 8, 2023, starting and playing 60 minutes in a 2–2 draw with the Washington Spirit.[14][15] Cortez also started in the Wave's very next game, an NWSL Challenge Cup defeat to Portland Thorns FC.[16]
Later in July, Wave players who participated in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup returned to the club.[17] Subsequently, Cortez moved from a national team replacement contract to an injury replacement contract.[18] She made one more appearance for the Wave before getting released on October 7.[19]
San Diego Wave, 2024
With five Wave players out for the summer in order to compete in the 2024 Olympics,[20] Cortez again signed a national team replacement player contract on July 18.[21] She did not appear for the Wave before she was released in August 2024.[22]
International career
As a middle schooler, Cortez received her first youth international call-up in 2014 to the U-14 national team.[5][23] She later went on to represent the United States at various other youth levels, including U-16, U-17, and U-18.[4][24]
Career statistics
Club
- As of December 25, 2024
- Includes the NWSL Challenge Cup
- Includes NWSL Playoffs
- Includes NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
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Honors
San Diego Wave
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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